THE first of 88 compensation claims arising from the Selby rail crash have been settled, it emerged yesterday.

But the insurance firm handling them warned it would be some time yet before others received compensation.

The disaster happened almost two years ago, in February 2001, when Gary Hart fell asleep at the wheel of his Land Rover.

It plunged on to the East Coast Main Line at Great Heck, North Yorkshire, derailing a GNER express train, which then collided with a freight train, claiming the lives of ten people.

Hart, of Strubby, Lincolnshire, was jailed for five years for causing death by dangerous driving, although he is appealing against the decision.

Following the conviction, 88 victims of the crash lodged compensation claims totalling £50m with Hart's insurance firm, Fortis.

Now, a company spokeswoman has revealed that it has started making payments.

She said: "From the outset, Fortis Insurance has done everything possible to minimise the legal process for claimants and to process claims without delay.

"Of the total of 88 claims, 21 have already been settled in full."

But she said: "It will be some time yet before the long-term effects of injuries to many of the victims can be properly assessed and until that time, the amount of compensation due to those claimants is unclear."

Among the claimants are GNER and Railtrack, which is demanding £11m for the costs of clearing and repairing the track and lost business.

Fortis is counter-suing Railtrack and the Highways Agency.